Lesson 4590

 (Lesson 4590)(08-28-24) Acts 1:1-5 

   “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” 

  

   In these opening verses of Acts, the author (probably Luke) recounted how Jesus appeared to His apostles after His resurrection and provided them with many proofs of His resurrection while teaching them about the coming kingdom of God. Jesus commanded them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father, that being the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus made a clear distinction between the intent of the water baptism administered by John the Baptist and the soul saving baptism with the Holy Spirit that He Himself would administer. Jesus emphasized that while John baptized with water toward repentance, the apostles would soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit, marking a new and transformative experience for believers. ~